Electrical oil and gas indicator



.aaowafogu s@ lg?, Y Y www3@ i XF? lgjxll I 08u15, 1` 837,113 u Y ELECTRICAL on. Mm GAS INDICATORV 3 SheetsaSheet 1 y .fnnHlllllj l 4 in m gw slm v Y' mi, aumm` ELCTRICAL OIL AND GAS- INDICATOR' Filed .m19 lo; 1928 3 sheets-sheet 2 Y Swocmtoz 7 w @si @2% m32/W -7 De@ 1s, 1931,`

vM. E. CHENEY 1,837,113.'

- ELECTRICAL on. AND GIAs INlncluox4 .1

Filgadqul'y 1o, 192e y fzs'sneets-sneet, s

hPatented Dec. 15, 1931 Darren sra'rss y Lenin aniram orales MOSES E. CHENEY. F LA. GROSSE, VISCON SIN, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0

MGTO METER GAUGE @c EQUIPEEEETNT CORPORATION, OF LONG ISLAND CITY, NEW

vonk, A CORPORATION or DELAWARE ELECTRIC@ OE AND GAS INDICATOR Applicatie); aies July 1o,

This invention relates to a combined elec tric gasoline and oil gauge suitable for use with the conventional dial pointer indicator i dition of the gas receptacle when in fact it is commonly used on motor cars. One main 5 feature is that it is only necessary to employ the conventional gas indicator which becomes common to both oil and gasoline receptacles.

Another important feature, is that the parts are so arranged that this indicator will normally and continuously indicate the amount of gas in the gas receptacle, thereby meeting i the standard requirement of a motor gas gauge, but at intervals which usually `will be infrequent, indications of the amount of oil in the oil receptacle can be temporarily obtained from the same indicator, t e character of the graduations on the dial being preferably unchanged from those commonly used on motor ca r gas gauges. v

It is especially adapted for use on motor.

vehicles wherein oil and gas are carried in separate receptacles of different shapes and sizes positioned at some distance from the operators seat, meeting the particular requirements which make it desirable for automobile use, it having been the established practise to graduate the dial of the commonly used gas gauge indicator with marks such as Empty; Fu1l; 1/8; IAL; 1/2 and 3/. 0b-

1.30 viously, graduated indicia marks only may be used as in Fig. 6.

The requirements of such a combinedvgas 'and oil device for motor car use which this invention has satisfied are the following:

.35 F irstf-It is essential that the operator be able to connect and disconnect the indicator and receptacles with a quick and single risvement of one hand, due to the exigences of the situation. It will sometimes happei that,

l 4" while the -car is in motion, the operator will wish information as to the condition of the oil tank and it is therefore important that he be able to operate the controlling device by a quick and simple movement of one hand with a minimum of risk. He can keep the other hand on the steering Wheel, and if the danger of a distraction is reduced to a minimum, the device will be accepted as practical for any average operator of a motor car.

Second- Another requirement is that the 1928. serial mi. 291,6?e5.

arrangement be such that the operator of` average intelligence cannot be mislead into reading the indicator as indicating the con- .under no circumstances must it fail to indicate continuously the liquid level of the gas in the gas receptacle except when the operator temporarily and intentionally causes the indicator to show a reading depicting oil level in the oil receptacle.l In order to accomplish this desirable result, the controlling device must also be arranged to restore auto 65 matically the connections 'of the indicator with the gas receptacle immediately upon its release by the operator.

Third- Another requirement is the matter ofexpense and simplicity. Obviously, the problem would have been simple if an additional indicator could have been placed on the cowl, but that would have been objectionable because of the expense involved. By reason of the limited space on the cowl for all the instruments that are now required for the modern car, it would also be objectionable to the car manufacturer to add another instrument to the equipment.. Furthermore, as indicated above, it is desirable to employ a simpleformof indicator` having but one set of graduations.

Fourth- To render a device of this kind suitable for automobile use'it must also be susceptible or' adaptation to tanks of ,radi- 35 cally different sizes and shapes; for itis well known that the tank for the gas is very different in size and shape from the oil tank and the empty and full positions of the floats are different. Consequently the extent ofv movement of one oat operated actuating device, as disclosed in Fig. 2, may be greater v or less than that of the other tank actuator. Some of the other requirements have been met by placing in the line'o'f vision of the op- Aerator both the indicator and thev controlling device and positioning one in close proximity to the other. Then, the specific arrangement of thc switch hereinafter described is especially adapted to meet the requirements of 10 2 A n An ss'ana reducing to a minimum the dan er of the op# -erator becoming conused or distracted. It will hereafter become apparent that the operator needonly give a quick glance at the 5 switch and indicator; for a slight and single movement of one hand will disconnect the gas rece tacle circuit, the indicator alwaystelll ing im, by a jump or flicker of the pointer, that the connections have been disconnected and another jump or flutter of the indicator will also indicate when the oil receptacle circuit is closed and likewise when thegas receptacle connections are restored.

.It will be seen that this invention provides a novel and felicitous arrangement of switch, indicator and circuits which permits the operator to secure a continuous reading `of the liquid-level of one receptacle, except when the selector switch is temporarily held long enough t'o enable the operator to determine the oil level of the other receptacle. All this can be done almost instantaneously with the minimum amount of distraction, by observing the pointer and one set of graduations, by a slight movement of one hand and without introducing any danger of confusingthe gas and oil receptacle readings.

In the arrangement disclosed not only is the indicator common to both tanks, but there is only one battery employed and this common battery is the source of the current for both sets of instruments associated with the two tanks, and with the addition of simple selector switch mechanism, manually operated, the system becomes such that at any moment an indication can be obtained of the level of the oil in the oil receptacle on .the same indicator dial as normally indicates the "level of the gas or v'ice versa. Furthermore, 4o the indicator-.will automatically be disconnected from the one receptacle and the con- Y necticn to the other tankrestored upon the release of the manually operated switch.

In cases where a plurality of gas and oil tanks are used, this single indicator and bat- -tery can be so connectedl with all thev tanks that indications can be obtained as to the liquid leyel of any tank at an. time. It' is only necessary to employ on. t e indicator dial one set of graduations such as those commonly em loyed i. e Full; Empty"; lg; 1/4; 1/2 an 1% andthe pointer will co-operate with those indicationsor with 'ordinary indicia gradautions whether the connections are $5 dmade to the oil tank or to the gas tank as hereinafter fully explained to indicate full, empty and all intermediate positions.

Other objects and advantages will be in part indicated in the following description G0 and in part rendered apparent' therefrom in connection with the annexed drawings..

To enable others skilled in the art so fully' to apprehend the underl ing features hereof thaty they may embody t e same in the varia ous ways contemplated by this invention,

drawings depicting a. preferred typical construction have been annexed as a part of this disclosure and, in such drawings, like characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout all the views, of which 70 In the drawings Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the parts. Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of a system having four tanks and a manually 'operated switch capable of connecting the indicator t'o any one of the tanks. 75 Fig. 3 is a diagrammaticview having two tanks in a two-Wire circuit with said indicator; Fig. 4 is a modiiication of Fig. 3 and Fig. 8 is a further modified construction similar to Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the 30 I l indicator mechanism, and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the instrumentboard of a car wherein the switch 5`is held against its spring pressure. Fig. 7 discloses a circuit l wherein the oil tank may be corriected to the 35 indicator with the ignition switch open. l In the drawings B indicates the battery or l source of electric current and A indicates i any ordinary instrument capable of indieating the current'in the circuits to which it is connected and same is graduated in the usual way to indicate the condition of the tanks, such'as Full, Empty etc. The rheostats are marked l and 2, the rheostat for the oil tank being marked 1 and the rheoe5 stat for the gas tank being marked 2 and these rheostats are of the ty2 e now 1n general luse with electric liquid evel tanks, and itis only necessary to say that these rheo stats are usually operated 'by iloats or simi- 100 lar devices located within the tanks.

The indicator is di the differential alvanometer type comprising coils 3 an 4 (Fig. 5). The high side of batteryA B 1s connected to terminal a and the rheostatsl are l connected to terminal b, being in series with coil 4. The battery is n is likewise grounded ig. 5). Inthe two wire circuit arrangement there may be four terminals cooperating with the -manual switch. The manually operated' switch l 5, which is springpressed into normal vpos1` tion by the spring 6, may be mounted on the frame of the car at a point accessible to the Switch 5 is shown 1n 115 operator of the car. Fig. 1 in normal position making contact with the terminal 8. The switch is no rmally disconnected from terminal 9 but this tery minal 9 is brought into contact by de ress ing switch 5 and simultaneously terminal 8 zo is cut out of the circuit.

The wiring is preferably as shown in Fig. 1 wherein contact 8 is connected to the rheo stat 2, both receptacles being grounded.

Contact'S is likewiseconnected to rheostatl. 125

The ignition switch is indicated by 10 and when that switch is closed with switch 5 in the position shown in Fig. 1 the rheostat 2 is in circuit with the indicating instrument A and the battery so that A will' indicate '1.30

rounded and coil 3 the condition of the gas tank. By pushing switch inwardly and thereby bringing terminal 9 and switch 5 together, the rlieostat l will be brought into circuit with the indicater and rheostat 2 disconnected therefrom. Consequently, the condition of the oil gas tanks and oil receptacles with one indicator land one battery common to all the tanks. Rheostats are employed as in the other figures of the drawings. All'the tanks are grounded. The terminal 9 is in circuit with the indicator and the terminal 10 is in circuit with gas tank 14, while terminal l1 is connected to ltank l5, terminal l2 with 16 and 13 with 17. The selector switch 18 can be operated to bring any one of the tanks into circuit with the indicator,-the switch being shown in position to close the line exxtending from the indicator to the gas tank As disclosed in Fig. 6 the selector switch 5 is preferably located on the instrument board of a motor car and the marks Gas and Oil indicate whether the selector swi tch is thrown to a position such that the indicator'will indicate the level of the gas or oil.

Fig. 7 vis a modified arrangement of Fig. 1'A

permitting'an indication ofthe oil level with the ignition switch open.

.Without further analysis, the foregoing' will so fully reveal the gist of this invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various utilizations by retaining one or more of the features that, from the standpoint of the prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of either the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should be, and are intended to be, comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalencyy ofthe following claims Having thus revealed this invention, I claim as new and desire to secure the following combinations and elements, or equivalents thereof, by Letters Patent of United States 1. In a-motor car characterized as having a panel adjacent the operators seat and separate receptacles fr gas and oil positioned at a point remote from said panel, the combination of ioat devices operated by the liquids in the receptacles, rheostats connected to said iioat devices, an indicator common to cessibl to the operators hand while sitting upon the seat of the car, and means for holding said switch in its normal position to cause continuous indications as tolthe position of the floatin the gas tank but capable of being moved temporarily-by a slight touch of the hand of the operator while sitting upon the seat of the car to a position such as to cause an indication of the level of said oil in its tank on said indicator, saidparts beine' so arranged that the switch upon its release rom the pressure of the operators hand will return inevitably and automatically to said normal position whereby continuous indications will be given of said float device in said gas tank except when the switch is held out of normal position by the hand of the operator.

2. In an electrical indicating system, characterized as having an indicator common to a plurality of receptacles and electric circuits connecting said indicator with said receptacles and a source of current, the combination comprising an ignition switch capable of opening and closing the circuit connecting the source ofcurrent and one receptacle with said indicator, a selector switch common to all said-receptacles and means for holdin f same in position normally to connect said in icator with said first mentioned receptacle whereby same will be connected with the source of current whenever said ignition switch is closed, said selector switch being capable of being moved to a position to connect temporarily said source of current and indicator with another of said receptacles with the ignition switch in open or closed position.

'-3. Inan electrical indicating system for a motor'car ha ving a panel adpxcent the driver s seat and separate receptacles for fuel .and oil, floats in said receptacles, electric circuits, adjustable resistances in said circuits controlled by said fioats, abattery for said circuits and an indicator and a switch mounted on said panel, said switch connecting saidjndicator in said circuits and being biased to normally connect said indicator in one circuit.

4.' n a motor car characterized as'having a. panel adjacent the operators seat and two separate receptacles for liquids positioned at points remote from said panel, the combination of mechanically variable devices operable by changes of condition in each of said reboth of said receptacles positioned on saidv ceptacles, rhcostats connected to said variable devices, an indicator common to both of said receptacles positioned on said panel with a. manually operable selector switch common to vsaid receptacles and accessible lto the operators hand while sitting upon the seat of the car, and means for-holding said switcliin Aits normal position to cause continuous indications aste the condition in one receptacle but capable of being moved temporarily by a slight touch of' the hand of the operator while sitting upon the scat of the car to a position such as to cause an indication of the condition in the other receptacle on seid indicator, said parts being so arranged that 'the switch upon its release, from the pressure 5 of the operutors hand will return inevitably' and automatically to said normal position whereby continuous indications will be given of the condition in said irst named receptacle except when the switch is held out of normal position by the hand of the operator. Y

5. In an electrical indicating system for n motor car heving a panel adjcent the drivers .seat and twoA separate receptables for liquids, mechanically variable devices operable by ch 4-iixges of condition ineach recep- A tacle, electric circuits, adjustable resistencias in said circuits controlled by said variable devices, a battery for said circuits and an indicator and a, switch mounted on said panel,

` Vsaid switch connecting said indicator in said circuits and being biased to normally connect said indicator in l)ne circuit. Y In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name.

MOSES E. 

